He also was seen on stage in Channel to Channel for the Negro Ensemble Company in New York, appeared in several television commercials, and is an accomplished vocalist, percussionist and lyricist.
Within the Star Wars universe, FRANK OZ (Yoda) is known for his masterly portrayal and voice of the Jedi Master Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He is credited with bringing to life a mere puppet and making the creation of one of the most memorable characters of the Star Wars saga.
Born in Hereford, England, Oz began puppeteering at age 11. He moved to New York in 1963 to join The Muppets. In 1969, he began puppeteering on the famed children's television series Sesame Street. Among the many characters he brought to life, he is best known for Bert, Cookie Monster and Grover. In 1976, he performed on The Muppet Show as a host of characters, including Animal, Fozzie Bear, the delightful Miss Piggy, and Sam the Eagle.
While originally known as a skilled puppeteer, Oz has also become a successful director whose credits include The Dark Crystal (with Jim Henson), The Muppets Take Manhattan, Little Shop of Horrors, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, What About Bob?, Housesitter, The Indian in the Cupboard and In & Out. He has received four Emmy awards for his work on television.
SAMUEL L. JACKSON (Mace Windu) received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations as Best Supporting Actor, and a Best Supporting Actor award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, for his performance as a philosophizing hitman in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction.
Jackson will soon be seen in the motion picture thriller Deep Blue Sea, directed by Renny Harlin and also starring Thomas Jane, Saffron Burrows, L.L. Cool J and Michael Rappaport. He stars opposite Tommy Lee Jones in the currently-shooting Rules of Engagement and then begins work on director John Singleton's remake of the 1970s classic Shaft. Jackson can also be seen in Francois Girad's The Red Balloon, which opened the Toronto Film Festival.
Jackson recently also starred in The Negotiator, Eve's Bayou, which he produced, and Jackie Brown, his second film for Tarantino. For the latter he was awarded a Golden Globe nomination and the Silver Bear for Best Actor in a Comedy at the Berlin Film Festival.
Jackson's work in the adaptation of John Grisham's novel A Time to Kill netted him a Golden Globe nomination and an NAACP Image Award. Among his other credits are Die Hard With a Vengeance, 187, Sphere, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Hard Eight, Kiss of Death, Losing Isaiah, and Amos & Andrew. For his work in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever, he was awarded the first and only Best Supporting Performance Award ever at Cannes Film Festival. He also won the New York Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor.
On television, Jackson starred in John Frankenheimer's Emmy Award-winning Against the Wall for HBO. His performance earned him a CableAce nomination as Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries, as well as a Golden Globe nomination. He has also worked extensively in theater.
RAY PARK (Darth Maul) makes his motion picture acting debut in Episode I. He has been involved in the Chinese martial arts since age 7, and has won numerous championships in the field. He is also accomplished in oriental weaponry, kickboxing, gymnastics and acrobatics. For the last seven years, he has been a member of the British Martial Arts Team, competing and demonstrating around the world on a regular basis.
Next, Park will be seen I, directed by Tim Burton. He was a stunt double in Mortal Kombat 2: Annihilation, and has performed in commercials and computer games.
